The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) was established in 2004 as an advisory organ to the AU composed of civil society organisations (CSOs). The principle of ECOSOCC is for civil society to organise itself to work in partnership with the AU.

ECOSOCC’s mandate includes:

Contributing, through advice, to the effective translation of the AU’s objectives, principles and policies into concrete programmes, as well as evaluating those programmes

Undertaking studies and making recommendations

Contributing to the promotion and realisation of the AU’s vision and objectives

Contributing to the promotion of human rights, the rule of law, good governance, democratic principles, gender equality and child rights

Promoting and supporting the efforts of institutions engaged in reviewing the future of Africa and forging pan-African values in order to enhance an African social model and way of life

Fostering and consolidating partnership between the AU and CSOs

Assuming functions referred to it by other AU organs.

ECOSOCC was established under the provisions of articles 5 and 22 of the AU Constitutive Act. Its Statutes, adopted by the AU Assembly in July 2004, define it as an advisory organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States (Assembly/AU/ Dec.48(III)). The first ECOSOCC General Assembly was formally launched on 9 September 2008 in Dar es Salaam, UR of Tanzania.

Structure

Under article 4 of the ECOSOCC Statutes, the Council is composed of 150 CSOs:1 two CSOs from each Member State; 10 CSOs operating at regional level and eight at continental level;

20 CSOs from the African Diaspora, as defined by the Executive Council and covering the continents of the world; and six CSOs, in ex-officio capacity, nominated by the AU Commission and based on special considerations, in consultation with Member States. Article 4 also provides for Member State, regional, continental and Diaspora representatives to be elected on the basis of 50 percent gender equality and 50 percent aged between 18 and 35. Members are elected for four-year terms and may be re-elected once.

note

1 The ECOSOCC Statutes were adopted before South Sudan became an AU member and, as of September 2014, have not been amended in regard to the total number of CSO members. Given that the current membership of the AU is now 54, in practice, the total number of CSO members would be 152.

CSO members include but are not limited to:

Social groups such as those representing women, children, youth, the elderly and people with disabilities and special needs

Professional groups such as associations of artists, engineers, health practitioners, social workers, media, teachers, sport associations, legal professionals, social scientists, academia, business organisations, national chambers of commerce, workers, employers, industry and agriculture, as well as other private sector interest groups

Social and professional organisations in the African Diaspora (in accordance with the definition approved by the Executive Council).

ECOSOCC’s highest decision- and policy-making body is its General Assembly, which is composed of all members as provided for in article 4 of the ECOSOCC Statutes. The General Assembly submits advisory opinions and reports as well as proposals on the budget and activities; approves and amends the Code of Ethics and Conduct developed for CSOs affiliated to or working with the AU; and reviews and makes recommendations on ECOSOCC activities.

The Assembly elects a bureau composed of a presiding officer and five deputies. Bureau members are elected on the basis of equitable geographical distribution and rotation, including one member representing the Diaspora. The General Assembly also elects an 18-member standing committee composed of a bureau, chairpersons of the 10 Sectoral Cluster Committees and two AU Commission representatives. The term of office for the Standing Committee members is two years.

The Standing Committee coordinates ECOSOCC’s work, prepares its General Assembly meetings, follows up implementation of the Code of Ethics and Conduct developed for CSOs, and prepares and submits the ECOSOCC annual report to the AU Assembly. The Committee held its first meeting in July 2009.

The General Assembly also establishes the Credentials Committee, composed of one CSO representative from each of the five regions; one CSO representative from the African Diaspora; one nominated representative for special interest groups such as vulnerable groups, the aged, physically challenged and people living with HIV/AIDS; and two AU Commission representatives.

The Committee is responsible for examining the credentials of ECOSOCC members and their representatives. Its Rules of Procedure are adopted by the General Assembly.

Article 11 of the ECOSOCC Statutes established the 10 Sectoral Cluster Committees as key operational mechanisms to formulate opinions and provide input into AU policies and programmes. The Committees are: Peace and Security; Political Affairs; Infrastructure and Energy; Social Affairs and Health; Human Resources, Science and Technology; Trade and Industry; Rural Economy and Agriculture; Economic Affairs; Women and Gender; and Cross-Cutting Programmes (such as HIV/AIDS, international cooperation and coordination with other AU institutions and organs).

The ECOSOCC General Assembly may recommend amendments to the established Sectoral Cluster Committees.

The structure of ECOSOCC is provided for in articles 8–12 of its Statutes. Article 14 provides for the Secretariat to be within the AU Commission. The Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) office in the AU Commission acts as the Secretariat for ECOSOCC.

Meetings

The General Assembly should meet in ordinary session once every two years. It may also meet in extraordinary session. The quorum for General Assembly meetings or of any of its committees is a simple majority (article 15). Each member has one vote. Decision-making is by consensus or, where consensus cannot be reached, by two-thirds majority of those present and voting (article 16). Questions of procedure require a simple majority.

The frequency of committee meetings is yet to be provided in the Rules of Procedure.

Members

The mandate of the first ECOSOCC General Assembly session expired in September 2012. As at 1 September 2014, the AU was conducting a campaign to encourage civil society to participate in the second ECOSOCC General Assembly. A date for the election of members had not been set.